Assigning a Drive letter to External USB connected Hard Drive

How can I assign the Drive letter M to a newly connected (USB) external
hard drive? The external hard drive is presently showing up in the
Device Manager as:

- Acronis Devices
Acronis True Image Backup Archive Explorer

I tried to follow the following instructions:

1. In the System option in Control Panel, click the Device Manager tab.
--This I was able to do.
2. In the hardware list, double-click the item that represents the
removable device. Removable devices are typically found under CD-ROM or
Disk Drives.
--My device is reflected as depicted above. I was able to click the
Acronis True Image Backup Archive Explorer entry.
3. In the Properties dialog box, click the Settings tab.
--The Properties dialog box is not present...thus, this is where I am
stopped.
4. In the Reserved Drive Letters list, select the last drive to be
assigned to this device. Click OK.
--The last letter assigned to this device was M.
In the End Drive Letter, list, select the last drive to be assigned to
this device. Click OK.
--All of this I can't do.
5. To close the System Properties dialog box, click OK.
--Can't do this one either.
6. When prompted, restart the computer.

-----

I'm stuck again. I am now attempting to recover lost files from my
earlier computer disaster. Here is where I am in this process:

I have a formatted 120GB hard drive installed in my system.

I have an external 120GB hard drive connected to my system via USB plug
(peviously in my system as Drive M).
On this hard drive is a backup copy of my system prior to my computer
melt-down.

I have a 30GB hard drive that is not presently in my system. This hard
drive is the one created after my recent melt-down. Be assured that
this hard drive is off in a safe place during this backup-restore process.

I have a backup of my earlier system on an external USB connected 120GB
hard drive. This backup was made with Acronis software. I also made
several sets of backup restore disks (CD and floppies) for use when it
became necessary to restore my system. I attempted to use the floppy
disks, and both sets were faulty. I then attempted to use the CD. (By
the way, for all who helped me with my recovery problems, the CD was
found during the startup process.) The CD disk did work, but it did not
find my external USB connected hard disk where the backup is stored.

I next loaded a Image for DOS backup copy of my 30 GB - C Drive on to
the 120GB internal drive. That worked without any problems.

I then was notified during startup that a new device was found...the USB
connected external hard drive.

That is where I am at the moment. My plan, once a letter is assigned to
the external hard drive, is to cut a new CD boot disk...hopefully, one
that shows the USB connected external hard drive.

I hope that all of this makes some sense, and I am again able to access
my lost data.


Thanks for any help sent my way.

Frog

"Frog" wrote in message
...

How can I assign the Drive letter M to a newly connected (USB) external
hard drive?

If all else fails, use TweakUI to disable drive letters
(say) H I J K L N O P Q R S T
leaving M as (next after all your other drives) the
only vacant and available logical drive after reboot.
(We assume your ext USB drive should be
connected only after boot.)

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Don Phillipson wrote:
"Frog" wrote in message
...

How can I assign the Drive letter M to a newly connected (USB) external
hard drive?

If all else fails, use TweakUI to disable drive letters
(say) H I J K L N O P Q R S T
leaving M as (next after all your other drives) the
only vacant and available logical drive after reboot.
(We assume your ext USB drive should be
connected only after boot.)

Thanks for your help.

Subsequent to receiving your message I did the following:

1. I removed:
- Acronis Devices
Acronis TrueImage Backup Archive Explorer
from the device manager. I initially, while the system was off, plugged
the external hard drive into the USB port. I then started my computer.
On start-up, the computer quickly flashed a small screen that said
something to the effect that a new USB device was found. Next, another
window appeared wanting to install a driver for this device. I clicked
cancel on this window. I then made a visit to Device Manager and found
the following:
- Acronis Devices
Acronis TrueImage Backup Archive Explorer
In no way am I able to find a way to identify this external drive as
drive M.

2. I unplugged the external hard drive from the system--restarted the
system--and then plugged the external hard drive into the system. The
same two windows were observed during start-up (i.e., new hardware found
and the one about finding a driver for the new hardware). I next made
another visit to the device manager--the external hard drive could not
be found.

I did not do the TweakUI bit as I am not able to get close to
assigning a drive letter to this external hard drive. Did I miss
something in your instructions?

Frog

"Frog" wrote in message
...
Don Phillipson wrote:
"Frog" wrote in message
...

How can I assign the Drive letter M to a newly connected (USB) external
hard drive?

If all else fails, use TweakUI to disable drive letters
(say) H I J K L N O P Q R S T
leaving M as (next after all your other drives) the
only vacant and available logical drive after reboot.

Subsequent to receiving your message I did the following:
[ snip ]

I did not do the TweakUI bit as I am not able to get close to
assigning a drive letter to this external hard drive. Did I miss
something in your instructions?

My advice concerned only TweakUI so you missed
nothing because you did not use this tool. You may
be making the task unnecessarily complicated.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Comments inline.....

"Frog" wrote in message
...
snip
1. I removed:
- Acronis Devices
Acronis TrueImage Backup Archive Explorer
from the device manager. I initially, while the system was off, plugged the
external hard drive into the USB port. I then started my computer. On start-up,
the computer quickly flashed a small screen that said something to the effect that
a new USB device was found. Next, another window appeared wanting to install a
driver for this device. I clicked cancel on this window. I then made a visit to
Device Manager and found the following:
- Acronis Devices
Acronis TrueImage Backup Archive Explorer
In no way am I able to find a way to identify this external drive as drive M.

Why would you expect to, from removing and reinstalling the Acronis Devices? The
Acronis Devices Acronis True Image Backup Archive Explorer has nothing to do with
your external USB hard drive.....it is a driver that allows you to mount an Acronis
backup archive in Windows Explorer so you can view and extract individual files from
the backup.

On startup, when a new USB device was found and Windows wanted to install a driver,
why did you click Cancel? It sounds like Windows is trying to install the driver
for the USB hard drive. Have you installed the Win98 driver for the USB hard drive
yet, from the CD that came with the drive or from a download from the manufacturer
of the hard drive?


2. I unplugged the external hard drive from the system--restarted the system--and
then plugged the external hard drive into the system. The same two windows were
observed during start-up (i.e., new hardware found and the one about finding a
driver for the new hardware). I next made another visit to the device
manager--the external hard drive could not be found.

Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

"Frog" wrote in message
...
| Don Phillipson wrote:
| "Frog" wrote in message
| ...
|
| How can I assign the Drive letter M to a newly connected (USB) external
| hard drive?
|
| If all else fails, use TweakUI to disable drive letters
| (say) H I J K L N O P Q R S T
| leaving M as (next after all your other drives) the
| only vacant and available logical drive after reboot.
| (We assume your ext USB drive should be
| connected only after boot.)
|
| Thanks for your help.
|
| Subsequent to receiving your message I did the following:
|
| 1. I removed:
| - Acronis Devices
| Acronis TrueImage Backup Archive Explorer
| from the device manager. I initially, while the system was off, plugged
| the external hard drive into the USB port. I then started my computer.
| On start-up, the computer quickly flashed a small screen that said
| something to the effect that a new USB device was found. Next, another
| window appeared wanting to install a driver for this device. I clicked
| cancel on this window. I then made a visit to Device Manager and found
| the following:
| - Acronis Devices
| Acronis TrueImage Backup Archive Explorer
| In no way am I able to find a way to identify this external drive as
| drive M.
|
| 2. I unplugged the external hard drive from the system--restarted the
| system--and then plugged the external hard drive into the system. The
| same two windows were observed during start-up (i.e., new hardware found
| and the one about finding a driver for the new hardware). I next made
| another visit to the device manager--the external hard drive could not
| be found.
|
| I did not do the TweakUI bit as I am not able to get close to
| assigning a drive letter to this external hard drive. Did I miss
| something in your instructions?
|
| Frog

You should have allowed Device Manager/Find New Hardware to install the USB
device, that would have been the base files necessary for access. Do you
presently show anything listed under Universal Serial Bus Controllers?
Without the hub and USB channel drivers, you will have no access.

As an aside: I have been noticing an issue which I have apparently
localized to installation of TweakUI regarding newer CDROM/DVD drives. On
several computers in which the customer had installed Tweak, the drives
eventually failed.
The setting [NoDriveTypeAutoRun] modified in the registry {or some other}
is apparently causing some type of conflict with the chip code, drive
requirement, or something similar. I have no idea why it would, just that
the same make and model drives are failing faster in systems in which
TweakUI has been installed.

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com
________

Oops sorry Glen, should have waited for your response..

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com
________

Glen,

I am totally confused at this point. Let me see if I can get this
hard drive back on track with a drive letter. The external USB
connected hard drive is a 120GB Western Digital hard drive (MDL:
WD1200BB-23RDAO). This hard drive is mounted an a Hi-Speed USB 2.0
case. I have exchanged the 30GB internal hard drive with another 120GB
Western Digital hard drive. I did this without installing any drivers,
and it immediately found the 120GB hard drive with no problem. I am
lost as to what to do next. As I said in an earlier message, I removed
the Acronis entry from the Device Manager. How do I get this back?
Secondly, I was in Safe Mode; and I found an entry as follows: -Human
Interface Device---USB Human Interface Device. Should this stay or
should it be removed? I believe it would be easier for me to remove
that entry also and start over again. Is that the best road for me to
take? As I remember the Acronis entry in normal Device Manager, it had
an MS driver assigned to it.

Sorry for my lack of knowledge at this point, but it is as it is.....

Help!
Frog
glee wrote:
Comments inline.....

"Frog" wrote in message
...
snip
1. I removed:
- Acronis Devices
Acronis TrueImage Backup Archive Explorer
from the device manager. I initially, while the system was off,
plugged the external hard drive into the USB port. I then started my
computer. On start-up, the computer quickly flashed a small screen
that said something to the effect that a new USB device was found.
Next, another window appeared wanting to install a driver for this
device. I clicked cancel on this window. I then made a visit to
Device Manager and found the following:
- Acronis Devices
Acronis TrueImage Backup Archive Explorer
In no way am I able to find a way to identify this external drive as
drive M.

Why would you expect to, from removing and reinstalling the Acronis
Devices? The Acronis Devices Acronis True Image Backup Archive
Explorer has nothing to do with your external USB hard drive.....it is a
driver that allows you to mount an Acronis backup archive in Windows
Explorer so you can view and extract individual files from the backup.

On startup, when a new USB device was found and Windows wanted to
install a driver, why did you click Cancel? It sounds like Windows is
trying to install the driver for the USB hard drive. Have you installed
the Win98 driver for the USB hard drive yet, from the CD that came with
the drive or from a download from the manufacturer of the hard drive?


2. I unplugged the external hard drive from the system--restarted the
system--and then plugged the external hard drive into the system. The
same two windows were observed during start-up (i.e., new hardware
found and the one about finding a driver for the new hardware). I
next made another visit to the device manager--the external hard drive
could not be found.

Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Your external WD hard drive is installed into a USB 2.0 enclosure. That enclosure
should have Win98 drivers that need to be installed before you can recognise and use
the enclosure in Win98. Those drivers should be on a CD that came with the
enclosure, or else you can probably download them from the maker of the enclosure.

Have you installed these drivers yet?

What brand and model is the *enclosure*?
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Frog" wrote in message
...
Glen,

I am totally confused at this point. Let me see if I can get this hard drive
back on track with a drive letter. The external USB connected hard drive is a
120GB Western Digital hard drive (MDL: WD1200BB-23RDAO). This hard drive is
mounted an a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 case. I have exchanged the 30GB internal hard drive
with another 120GB Western Digital hard drive. I did this without installing any
drivers, and it immediately found the 120GB hard drive with no problem. I am lost
as to what to do next. As I said in an earlier message, I removed the Acronis
entry from the Device Manager. How do I get this back? Secondly, I was in Safe
Mode; and I found an entry as follows: -Human Interface Device---USB Human
Interface Device. Should this stay or should it be removed? I believe it would
be easier for me to remove that entry also and start over again. Is that the best
road for me to take? As I remember the Acronis entry in normal Device Manager, it
had an MS driver assigned to it.

Sorry for my lack of knowledge at this point, but it is as it is.....

Help!
Frog
glee wrote:
Comments inline.....

"Frog" wrote in message
...
snip
1. I removed:
- Acronis Devices
Acronis TrueImage Backup Archive Explorer
from the device manager. I initially, while the system was off, plugged the
external hard drive into the USB port. I then started my computer. On start-up,
the computer quickly flashed a small screen that said something to the effect
that a new USB device was found. Next, another window appeared wanting to
install a driver for this device. I clicked cancel on this window. I then made
a visit to Device Manager and found the following:
- Acronis Devices
Acronis TrueImage Backup Archive Explorer
In no way am I able to find a way to identify this external drive as drive M.

Why would you expect to, from removing and reinstalling the Acronis Devices? The
Acronis Devices Acronis True Image Backup Archive Explorer has nothing to do
with your external USB hard drive.....it is a driver that allows you to mount an
Acronis backup archive in Windows Explorer so you can view and extract individual
files from the backup.

On startup, when a new USB device was found and Windows wanted to install a
driver, why did you click Cancel? It sounds like Windows is trying to install
the driver for the USB hard drive. Have you installed the Win98 driver for the
USB hard drive yet, from the CD that came with the drive or from a download from
the manufacturer of the hard drive?


2. I unplugged the external hard drive from the system--restarted the
system--and then plugged the external hard drive into the system. The same two
windows were observed during start-up (i.e., new hardware found and the one
about finding a driver for the new hardware). I next made another visit to the
device manager--the external hard drive could not be found.

Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

glee wrote:
Your external WD hard drive is installed into a USB 2.0 enclosure.

Yes

That
enclosure should have Win98 drivers that need to be installed before you
can recognise and use the enclosure in Win98. Those drivers should be
on a CD that came with the enclosure, or else you can probably download
them from the maker of the enclosure.

Have you installed these drivers yet?

No

What brand and model is the *enclosure*?

All I see on the exterior of the enclosure is--

Hi-Speed USB2.0
Model no: PHR-100A

Macally USA
Mace Group Inc.
15861 Tapia Street,
Irwindale, CA 91706
email:
website: www.macally.com

I found the box that the enclosure was in at the store---and there was a
disk titled Devices Drivers Manuals. Here is the list of drivers on
this CD:

Driver CD(V07.05)
PHC-500B
Drivers
PI-022
PI-042UB
PHC-500BC
Drivers
PI-019
PI-042
PHC-500BF
PHR-100A
Drivers
PI-004
PI-036UB
PHR-100AC
Drivers
PI-002
PI-010
PI-023
PI-036
PHR-100ACB
PHR-100ACE
Drivers
PI-053
PHR-100AF
PHR-250A
Drivers
PHR-250CC
Drivers
PI-017
PI-035
PI-062
PHR-250CE
Drivers
PI-050
PHR-250CU
Drivers
PI-017UB
PI-035UB
PHR-250OTH
Drivers

Each of the Drivers listed will open a manual. My only problem is I
don't have any to open these manuals on my XP machine. I will open them
tomorrow on my 98SE machine.

Now with all of the above, what should I do first? I'm thinking of
formatting the internal C drive first. Then, I will reinstall the C
drive backup from my 30GB drive onto the 120GB internal drive. From
that point on is where I get lost.

Well, that is some progress toward my goal of recovering my lost data--I
hope.

Frog